Proximity link controller for equipment and product

Abstract

An identity and possibly integrity based communication system is disclosed as a broad conceptual realization of a system especially useful with a disposable product packaging and its machinery which enables receipt of identification data incorporated into the packaging, or otherwise incorporated into the product. The receipt of information may be acknowledged to the user or surreptitiously acknowledged, and includes cases where the identification data carried may be either preserved, destroyed, or changed upon opening, or consumption of the contents in the package. The existence of the identification data may be either shown on the packaging or hidden from view regardless of whether the identification data is placed on the outside surface of the packaging, inside surface of the packaging, or within the packaging material. An integrated packaging used without further package removal is also included. Identification data includes, and is not limited to packaging number, packaging or product type contained within the packaging, size, and may include instructions on treating, using or otherwise dealing with the material or object contained in the packaging.

1 . A proximity link controller for process equipment comprising: 
 a unit of process equipment;    an identity reader having at least one of sensor and transmitter structures connected to said unit of process equipment;    a material package containing material to be processed and having an information identifier readable by said identity reader;    a computational processor connected to said identity reader for receiving, classifying and acting upon said process equipment in response to said information identifier.    
   
   
       2 . The proximity link controller for process equipment as recited in  claim 1  wherein at least one of said computational processor and said information identifier contains detailed information for operating said process equipment.  
   
   
       3 . The proximity link controller for process equipment as recited in  claim 1  wherein said information identifier is analog.  
   
   
       4 . The proximity link controller for process equipment as recited in  claim 1  wherein said information identifier is at least partially digital.  
   
   
       5 . The proximity link controller for process equipment as recited in  claim 1  wherein said packaging is such that said material to be processed by said unit of process equipment may be performed through said packaging.  
   
   
       6 . The proximity link controller for process equipment as recited in  claim 5  wherein said unit of process equipment is configured to isolate said material to be processed and said information identifier from a user before said computational processor is enabled to perform at least one of the receiving said information identifier, classifying said information identifier and acting upon said process equipment.  
   
   
       7 . The proximity link controller for process equipment as recited in  claim 1  wherein said unit of process equipment is configured to enable its operation only when said material package containing material to be processed has an proper identifier.  
   
   
       8 . The proximity link controller for process equipment as recited in  claim 1  wherein said identifier associated with said material package containing material to be processed can be disabled.  
   
   
       9 . The proximity link controller for process equipment as recited in  claim 8  wherein said identity reader can disable said identifier associated with said package.  
   
   
       10 . The proximity link controller for process equipment as recited in  claim 9  wherein said a computational processor is programmed to disable said identifier associated with said package after reading said identifier.  
   
   
       11 . The proximity link controller for process equipment as recited in  claim 8  wherein said identifier associated with said package is arranged to be disabled upon opening of said package.  
   
   
       12 . The proximity link controller for process equipment as recited in  claim 9  wherein said opening of said package is by tearing said package.  
   
   
       13 . The proximity link controller for process equipment as recited in  claim 1  wherein said computational processor is programed to disable said information identifier immediately after said information identifier is read.  
   
   
       14 . The proximity link controller for process equipment as recited in  claim 1  wherein said process equipment is a brewer for introducing hot water into contact with said material to be processed.  
   
   
       15 . The proximity link controller for process equipment as recited in  claim 13  wherein said material to be processed is coffee and wherein processing is by brewing and wherein said brewing is performed while said coffee remains within said packaging.  
   
   
       16 . The proximity link controller for process equipment as recited in  claim 15  wherein said brewer includes a flow through container for isolating said coffee and said packaging.  
   
   
       17 . The proximity link controller for process equipment as recited in  claim 16  wherein said computational processor allows said identity reader to read said information identifier only when said flow through container is in a position in which brewing can occur and wherein said packaging is isolated within said flow through container.  
   
   
       18 . A process of controlling process equipment comprising the steps of: 
 in a material package containing material to be processed and having an information identifier readable by an identity reader, reading said information identifier;    enabling a pre-selected processing sequence in a unit of processing equipment in response to reading said information identifier and which corresponds to at least the identity of the type and amount of material to be processed; and    disabling said information identifier to prevent its further use.    
   
   
       19 . The process of controlling process equipment as recited in  claim 18  and further comprising the step of isolating said material package containing material to be processed within said unit of processing equipment as a prerequisite to said reading said information identifier step.  
   
   
       20 . The process of controlling process equipment as recited in  claim 18  wherein said reading said information identifier step is performed using electromagnetic energy.